Melissa Joy, CFP®

Founder & Financial Planner

melissa@pearlplanning.com |  734.274.6744

A smiling woman with blonde hair sitting on a black bench, wearing a bright pink blazer, white top, floral pants, and pink shoes against a plain beige background.
  • BACKGROUND

    Before founding Pearl, Melissa worked in financial planning and investments for more than twenty years. As a CFP® professional, she specializes in working with busy families managing careers and success. Pearl Planning fulfilled her dream to build a client-focused, personalized wealth management firm.

  • PHILOSOPHY ON INVESTING

    Don't expect it to be easy. To reach goals, you have to prioritize and be disciplined. That's why we are named Pearl. It starts as that tiny irritation inside the oyster's shell. I'm not here to bug you, but I am going to hold you accountable for what you say you want to achieve. Beneath the sea, that grain of sand transforms into something beautiful.

Get to know Melissa

CHILDHOOD COLLECTION

Old maps, the kind with edges that taper into the unknown.

YOU MIGHT BUMP INTO ME

Around Dexter, the chain of lakes, a local brewery or bookstore.

A QUOTE ON MY DESK

"You can do anything, but you can't do everything."

GEEKING OUT

Research, numbers, and building a discretionary management platform.

THREE FAVORITE WORDS

Purpose, Generosity, Possibility

More About Melissa

AREAS OF FOCUS & INTEREST

  • Double-breadwinner families

  • Divorce, inheritance, and windfall transitions

  • Financial planning for executives

  • Multigenerational & location-agnostic planning

LEADERSHIP

  • Advisory Committee, Dexter Community Fund

  • Past member, Raymond James Women's Council

  • Former Board, Build Institute

  • Former Board, ArtOps

View Awards Disclosures

EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS

  • Certified Financial Planner®

  • Certificate of Financial Planning, Boston University

  • B.A. Political Science, University of Michigan

  • Executive Leadership Program, Inforum

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

  • Forbes/Shook Top Women Wealth Advisors, MI, 2024

  • Investopedia 100, 2020–2023

  • Crain's Detroit Top Women in Finance, 2020

  • Working Mother Top Wealth Advisor Moms, 2017–18

THE TEAM

Meet the rest of the Pearl team